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Sarasota County official rebutting lodging survey

Published: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 8:32 p.m.

Siesta Key, Sarasota and Longboat Key are among the most expensive coastal destinations in Florida, according to a survey by Miamihotels.org, a travel booking website.

Key West is the most expensive in the state, but Siesta Key ranked No. 5, Sarasota No. 7 and Longboat Key No. 10, with average room rates in the low- to mid-$200s per night for the cheapest three-star hotel during peak weekends in January, February or March, survey results show.

For an overnight stay in Key West, guests pay an average of $254 per night, whereas a night on Siesta Key rates $231 and Sarasota hoteliers fetch $229, the group found. Longboat Key prices were $219 a night.

The survey looked at average room rates for hotels within a mile of a city center or top beach destination during high tourism season, from December 2012 through March of this year.

Local tourism officials said the survey does not reflect the true nature of vacation rentals here.

"The problem with this survey is that there are very few traditional hotel rooms to choose from on Siesta Key. Most of our bookings are condo rentals," said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism agency.

Smith Travel Research, an independent firm, contends that average room rates for Sarasota County were at $181 in January and February. But those rates would include non-urban hotels and lodgings that are not near the beach.

"There was this perception that Sarasota is expensive at one time, but when you look at our average room rates, you see that just is not true," Haley said.

Marco Island, near Naples, was No. 2 on the Miamihotels.org list, with rooms hovering in the $242-per-night range.

Palm Beach was No. 3, at $236 per night, and Sanibel Island, near Fort Myers, was fourth, at $235.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, of the top 20 most expensive Florida destinations, Miami Beach was the cheapest at $143 per night during peak season, the Miamihotels.org group concluded.

<p>Siesta Key, Sarasota and Longboat Key are among the most expensive coastal destinations in Florida, according to a survey by Miamihotels.org, a travel booking website.</p><p>Key West is the most expensive in the state, but Siesta Key ranked No. 5, Sarasota No. 7 and Longboat Key No. 10, with average room rates in the low- to mid-$200s per night for the cheapest three-star hotel during peak weekends in January, February or March, survey results show.</p><p>For an overnight stay in Key West, guests pay an average of $254 per night, whereas a night on Siesta Key rates $231 and Sarasota hoteliers fetch $229, the group found. Longboat Key prices were $219 a night.</p><p>The survey looked at average room rates for hotels within a mile of a city center or top beach destination during high tourism season, from December 2012 through March of this year.</p><p>Local tourism officials said the survey does not reflect the true nature of vacation rentals here.</p><p>"The problem with this survey is that there are very few traditional hotel rooms to choose from on Siesta Key. Most of our bookings are condo rentals," said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism agency.</p><p>Smith Travel Research, an independent firm, contends that average room rates for Sarasota County were at $181 in January and February. But those rates would include non-urban hotels and lodgings that are not near the beach.</p><p>"There was this perception that Sarasota is expensive at one time, but when you look at our average room rates, you see that just is not true," Haley said.</p><p>Marco Island, near Naples, was No. 2 on the Miamihotels.org list, with rooms hovering in the $242-per-night range.</p><p>Palm Beach was No. 3, at $236 per night, and Sanibel Island, near Fort Myers, was fourth, at $235.</p><p>Perhaps unsurprisingly, of the top 20 most expensive Florida destinations, Miami Beach was the cheapest at $143 per night during peak season, the Miamihotels.org group concluded.</p>